The creature’s gaze locked on Emile and it stood to its full height, at least eight or nine feet tall, and let out a loud bellow.
“Tolah!”
The fighter holding the sword of Iserlohn immediately charged the beast.
“No! Leave him!” Emile shouted, but it was too late.
The creature lifted an elongated arm and backhanded the soldier with a swing so brutal, it lifted the Elf off his feet and he hit neck first onto the floor. The sword flew from his fingers and skidded across the marble floor of the ballroom.
The Elven creature sniffed the air and then snapped his head toward Alia still in the grip of another Battlearm.
“Tolah! No!”
Faster than Kane had ever seen anything move, the beast skittered toward Alia, claws scratching the slick floor. Alia screamed and tried to fight her way free of the Ellvinian holding her, but he pushed her out in front of him to shield himself.
Kane frantically searched for his sword, and spotted it up against the windowed wall of the ballroom and sprinted toward it.
Alia let out a bloodcurdling squeal.
Kane spun back around just as his hand clamped on the hilt of his weapon.
The Ellvinian that had been holding Alia was lying on the ground. At least he thought it was the same fighter. The head was missing.
The beast had Alia clutched in his long arms. Kane watched in horror as the beast’s tail sprouted two fangs at the end of it and darted toward her. In an attempt to evade the menacing member, she arched her back so far away from the creature that her long hair brushed the ground. It was not enough. The tail struck her neck and latched on. A strange sucking noise issued from the tentacle and blood began to drip down Alia’s throat.
Kane screamed and sprinted toward the ghastly spectacle, shoving his way past the Ellvinians in the room who stood staring transfixed as though in some kind of trance.
“Move!”
Kane cursed when he saw Alia’s eyes roll up in her head. He was not going to make it! With a cry, he lifted his sword and dove at the creature, but with uncanny speed, it dropped Alia and flitted out of his reach.
“Alia!” Kane scrambled to his watershifter friend and cradled her head in his lap. Izzy dropped down next to him.
“Is she all right?”
He shook Alia gently. “Come on, Alia. You are going to be fine.”
Her head lolled listlessly.
A sob tore from his throat. “Alia! Look at me!” Blood soaked Kane’s trousers and he turned Alia’s head to inspect her wound. Half of her neck was torn away.
Something inside him died.
“Kane, let’s get out of here,” Izzy cried, pulling on his arm.
Kane lifted his head and witnessed a bizarre scene playing out in the ballroom. The Ellvinians were trying to catch the blood-sucking creature with crazed looks in their eyes. One managed to get close, shoved the tail in his mouth, and began sucking out Alia’s blood before the beast launched him off with a vicious kick.
“Leave the Vypir be!” Emile continued to scream at his Battlearms.
So, the beast had a name. Kane looked back down at Alia with a sad smile and brushed her red hair away from her face. “May the spirits of the Highworld take you gently into their embrace,” he prayed over her softly. “I will miss you, mermaid.” Then, he carefully moved from under her and stood.
Golden eyes radiated as he called forth the magic that was his to summon. “Izzy, go find Kellan and Kirby. Bring them and the others here to the ballroom.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked worriedly.
“Just do as I say.”
The little Elf looked at him with tears pooling in her purple eyes and then turned and ran.
Without emotion, Kane walked to the door and after Izzy went through, locked it. He turned back to survey the room with the sword of Iserlohn in his fist.
One of the Ellvinians finally noticed him and yelled out, but it was too late. Kane splintered his image into five replicas. “For Massa!” he cried and ran toward the Ellvinians in a wedge formation. “For Alia!”
Realizing the sudden danger, several Battlearms broke off from their chase of the Vypir to close with him. Of course, they attacked the point illusion first and Kane cut into them from the flank. He screamed as he fought and within seconds, he was covered in blood and three Ellvinians lay dead on the floor.
That left nine.
They came at him in a group now, the Vypir forgotten in the need to survive.
He split the replicas up to run in different directions and this fooled the Ellvinians for a time, but it soon became obvious who was the real threat. Still weakened by the beating he suffered, Kane began to tire and grunted in pain when more enemy thrusts snaked through his defenses and found their mark. The slices over his body were growing more numerous and soon the lion’s share of the blood at his feet was his.
As he tried to defend against three attacks at once, he slipped to the floor and his sword fell from his grip.
“Finish him off!” he heard a feminine voice order. It had to be Samara.
A dark Elf standing over him lifted his sword and in that last second before death, Kane found that he had no regrets. He would go to the spirits in the Highworld knowing he fulfilled his oath. Knowing he fought to protect the people of Massa with his last breath. And, knowing that Alia would be waiting there for him.
He smiled and that modest act saved his life.
It caused the Elf standing over him ready to deliver the fatal blow to hesitate. And, in that hesitation, the room behind the Elves exploded into a million tiny razor-sharp shards as Jain crashed through one of the windows. The enormous white cat landed nimbly on the blood-soaked floor and let out a venomous roar.
A Kenley does not die lying on his back!
Kane’s chest swelled and an involuntary snarl erupted from his teeth at the authority in Jain’s words. From the blood oath? The Dracan bond? Simple pride? It did not matter. Kane smirked. Let us die standing up then, my friend.
Kane kicked out and sent the Elf standing over him to the floor. His golden eyes flared as he once again conjured five illusions into existence. The distraction gave him just enough time to get to his feet and retrieve his sword.
Together, Kane and Jain, upholding the promises of both of their ancestors, fought side by side to defeat the Ellvinians.
Kane cried out in frustration when he saw the Vypir, Emile and Samara escape through the broken window, but battling two Ellvinians, he could not give chase. Remotely, he registered the sounds of screaming and fighting out in the hallway, so Kane stepped up his efforts to end the battle and the two Ellvinians fell to his sword.
The locked ballroom doors shook from furious pounding from outside. Kane turned to see Jain make the final kill just as the doors exploded off their hinges and sailed backwards into the room.
It was Kellan.
Pouring in around him were all the people that the Ellvinians trapped in the cellar. Servants, mostly, but some were foreigner guests of the mayor. All had determined looks creasing their features as they ran in holding bloody knives or iron skillets. The cook, Cora, held a broom and she looked like she was more than capable of inflicting damage with it.
“We won back the estate,” Kellan announced. “The Ellvinians are gone.”
CHAPTER 22
THE FEAST
In the open pavilion on a portion of the beach cleared for the feast, Kiernan sat back on her pillow and smiled as she watched the Ellvinians fight for the pleasure of dancing with Airron and Melania. The dark Elves unabashedly admitted to their fascination with her white-haired friends. Airron seemed to enjoy the attention from the women, but poor Melania yelped as she was twirled from one Ellvinian male to the next in a lively dance. If it had been her, Kiernan knew she would have been sick to her stomach by now.
A young girl approached Kiernan shyly and held out a necklace she made from a string of flowers. “For you, my lady.”
Kier
nan lowered her head and allowed the girl to place the flowers around her neck. “Thank you. They are lovely.”
In response, the girl giggled and ran off to join the energetic parade of dancers that swiveled their way through the festivities. The girl raced to the end of the line, placed her hands on the hips of the person in front of her and proceeded to kick her legs in unison with the others.
The Elf sitting next to Kiernan nudged her and offered her a pipe that emitted a sweet smelling smoke, but she politely declined. It seemed to make those who chose to imbibe a little wobbly on their feet and as exhausted as she was at the moment, it would most likely send her flat on her face right here in the sand. The soft moonlight and hypnotic undulation of the torch flames were not helping in keeping her awake and she stifled a yawn.
“You have made my people very, very happy this day,” Hendrix Bane commented to their small circle that included Beck, Rogan and Janin as well as the three Ellvinian Seconds.
Kiernan sat up straighter, not wishing to appear rude.
“Yes, they do seem in good spirits,” Beck answered.
“Why shouldn’t they be? You saved their lives.” The Premier took a long draw on the pipe. “So, what do you do in Massa, Master Atlan?”
“Please, just call me Beck.”
“Very well, Beck.”
“To answer your question, I am a simple man who enjoys living a simple life.”
For some reason, Beck indicated on the journey that he did not wish to reveal to the Ellvinians their true status in Massa. She wondered now if her husband had reason to be suspicious of them. Kiernan gazed around at the celebrating Elves and did not feel the slightest bit of worry. In fact, the Ellvinians had done nothing except make them feel extremely welcome ever since they stepped foot on the island.
The Premier waggled a finger in the air. “Not so simple a man, Beck. Your wife tells me you are a Mage.”
Beck conceded the statement with a small nod.
“Are there other Mages in Massa?” the Premier asked.
Beck shook his head. “No, but I confess to hoping that one day my sons will follow in my footsteps.”
Kiernan snorted, but no one seemed to hear. Actually, she had no doubt that her husband heard, but he simply chose not to acknowledge her. She tried to suppress a second yawn, but was not so successful this time.
“Do not fall asleep just yet, Lady Kiernan,” the Premier chided her. “I have yet one more surprise in store for you tonight.”
Inwardly, Kiernan groaned at having to remain at the feast longer, but forced a smile on her face for Hendrix.
Beck stood. “It will have to wait until morning, Premier Bane. Surely, you can understand how tired we are from the day’s activities.”
Highworld bless that man, Kiernan thought to herself and accepted Beck’s outstretched hand to help her to her feet.
Hendrix stood as well, waved a hand in Beck’s face and in a singsong voice, said, “No, no, no. I’m afraid I must insist, Beck.” Hendrix moved closer to her husband. “You would like nothing more than to receive that surprise right now, wouldn’t you?”
Beck nodded. “I would like a surprise right now.”
Kiernan snapped her head up to Beck. It was unlike him to give in so easy.
Anah turned to Rogan and said, “You wish to call your friends over so they can participate in the surprise as well.”
She listened with even more confusion as Rogan opened his mouth in surprise. “What a lovely song, Anah!”
Song?
Anah repeated her request to retrieve Airron and Melania, and Rogan raced off toward the dancers.
Kiernan was suddenly alert. All was not right, but she did not know why she felt that way. If she pried apart the conversations, they seemed innocuous, but her instincts were telling her something different.
When Rogan returned with Airron and Melania, Hendrix and the Seconds continued to suggest actions to her friends and they all complied without hesitation while commenting on the beautiful voices of the Ellvinians.
Kiernan had no idea what they were talking about. She heard no song from the dark Elves’ mouths. It was the strangest thing.
“Come along now!” Hendrix intoned and led the way to an unoccupied portion of the beach. His dress, which the Ellvinians called a tongor, billowed around his ankles as he strode forward purposefully.
Kiernan threaded her arm through Beck’s and glanced up at his profile, but he seemed as resolute as the Premier and kept his gaze forward as he walked. Still uneasy, Kiernan just wanted to receive this surprise and then go back to the compound where she could discuss her fears in private with Beck.
The Premier led them off the beach and onto a narrow path that cut into a swampy copse of mangroves.
“Not much longer,” Hendrix said and held out his hand, indicating he wanted Kiernan and Beck to step into the leafy tunnel ahead of him. The walkway through the groves was quite dry but off to the left and right of their path, Kiernan could see the moonlight reflected in water. A skittering sound drew her notice and she saw several crab-like creatures scrabble down a tree trunk and drop into the water below.
Strangely enough, she could not shake the feeling that she was walking to her execution.
“Ah, here we are now,” exclaimed the Premier.
Their party emerged from the wooded grove and into a circular clearing. Several armed Ellvinians stood around six large stakes sticking up from the ground. Similar to the ambiance of the feast, torches on poles illuminated the eerie scene. Beck still had not said a word to her and that was making her even more nervous.
The Premier clapped his hands. “If you will all just step up to the stakes, we can begin the surprise.”
Instinctively, Kiernan reached for the sword on her back and her hand came up empty. She no longer carried the sword of Iserlohn. Her son, Kane, carried it now.
The Ellvinians whispered words in the ears of Airron, Rogan, Melania and Janin and they all stepped up laughing to the poles.
“What an unusual party ritual,” Airron commented, but happily stood against his stake.
The Ellvinians asked her and Beck to follow suit, and Kiernan watched in disbelief as Beck passively did as he was told.
“Come now, Lady Kiernan. You do not wish to spoil the surprise now, do you?” the Premier challenged.
“What is going on? I am not going to stand next to a stake in the ground. What absurdity is this?”
“Just do as they say, Kiernan,” Beck instructed.
“Really? You want me to do this?”
“Yes.”
“Beck! I refuse to—”
“Please.”
Reluctantly, Kiernan stomped to the last remaining pole and stood against it. As soon as she did, she cried out in pain as her arms were wrenched behind her back and tied around the pole by one of the Ellvinian fighters.
She glared at her husband. “Happy?”
“This is not the time, Kiernan.”
“No? Fine, then I’ll wait until they light the fire under my feet.”
The Elf behind her yanked the ropes tighter and she wondered why her companions’ demeanors showed none of the panic that gripped her. Airron, Melania, Rogan and Airron simply grinned and Beck, of course, just wore a stony expression as his arms were tied. But, she knew her husband well and was sure he was holding something back. But, what?
“Surprise!” Hendrix cackled.
CHAPTER 23
GOOSEBERRY
“Rogan, gooseberry.”
“Gooseberry,” Rogan repeated automatically.
Beck looked at Janin. “Gooseberry.”
“Gooseberry.”
“Airron, gooseberry.”
“Gooseberry.”
Melania said the word without the prompt.
Beck turned toward Kiernan.
“Are you serious?” she asked. “You want me to say gooseberry?”
Beck chuckled. “I knew you would be the difficult one.”
“G
ooseberry! There, I said it,” she declared petulantly.
Airron looked around at the armed Ellvinians. “Am I right in assuming this is no longer a fun surprise?”
“It is not,” Beck confirmed.
“Then, why are we standing here strapped to stakes?” Rogan demanded.
“The Ellvinians used what they call Ascendency on you. It is a potent form of power of suggestion.”
“So, the Elves convinced me that it would be fun to let them tie me up and I believed them?” Rogan asked.
“Basically.”
“Is it magic?”
“No. I believe this Ascendency is extremely effective in the Ellvinians because of the centuries they have had to perfect it, but it is not magic. Well, not entirely. I think innately, the Elves do have a small amount of inherent magic and this fact contributes to the strength of their control, but it is more of a learned skill.”
The Premier simply stood and stared at them as Beck spoke.
“What’s with the gooseberry?” Kiernan asked.
“The word was meant to break the hypnotic state the Ellvinians placed you in. Whenever the Ellvinians speak to you, I want you to think of a bright green gooseberry. This will neutralize their power of suggestion over you.”
“Their power does not work on me,” Kiernan stated.
“By the glares you have been giving me, I assumed that was the case.”
“Gooseberry, huh?” Airron mused. “Is it really that simple?”
“Yes, it really is that simple. Think of a gooseberry and the Ellvinians will no longer be able to send you into a hypnotic state and control your actions.”
“And, you have known this all along?” Kiernan accused.
He quickly shook his head. “No. Lars Kingsley mentioned a unique timbre to the voices of the Ellvinians and it prompted me to think of Ascendency, but all the pieces did not slide together until the feast.”
“If that is the case, then why are we still strapped to poles? Shouldn’t we free ourselves?” Rogan asked.
The Ellvinian fighters shuffled their feet nervously.
Island Shifters: Book 03 - An Oath of the Children Page 16